I was sure that in our long and cherished history Arsenal must have played a competitive match or two on Irish soil, but I didn’t remember watching any since I had started to follow the red-and-white in the Arsène Wenger heydays. A quick walk-through in the Arsenal museum’s European history section brought me to a minor display – dust-covered and neglected in a corner – of a double-header against Glentoran of Northern Ireland in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1969-70 season. We had won 3-0 at Highbury before losing 0-1 away at Belfast. But the gleaming showcase at the well-lit center of that section in the museum tells me that we had won our first European trophy in that Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. First of only two, and I can never shake off that feeling that it is a record of singular underachievement for a club of Arsenal’s history and stature.
Just as it happens with everything in life that we take for granted, only after we have fallen off the high standards required to maintain our (now all the more so) enviably consistent record of Champions League participation, the entire fanbase now appreciates the value and significance of that consistency and is now reunited with the aspiration of the return back to where we think we belong. Hope is probably a more suitable word than aspiration. We are currently a Europa League team – with a few players on Champions League wages – and with a squad that has been built with the strategic foresight of a Chekhovian aristocrat who after falling into hard times mortgages his estate to pay for a gala reception.
Nonetheless, however unsatisfying it might be, the Europa League has this enticing (and a little paradoxical) allure of providing an avenue to get out of its Thursday night clutches, and back into the comforts of Allianz Arena or Camp Nou on a Tuesday or Wednesday. Win me, this Europa whispers — even if you are a tame indistinguishable bull in the herd of your fellow league strugglers – and the Mount Olympus of Champions League football is yours to stroll onto.
Though decidedly tame have been our performances and results lately in the league since the memorable away win at Manchester United, in the Europa group stages we have won all of our first five matches and tomorrow gives us an opportunity to put on a sixth consecutive win — however inconsequential that might be in the context of our group as we have already topped the group B and Dundalk F.C. with zero points cannot progress to the next stage irrespective of results – to at least bring a sense of relative calm before the all-important six-pointer against fellow relegation strugglers Burnley in the weekend’s PL fixture.
Dundalk F.C. may be a minnow in the context of European football but they are one of the most successful (and oldest) team in the Irish domestic league, winning it 14 times, the last of which came in the 2018-19 season. They are also currently the highest-ranked Irish club in European football. And this is the second time they have qualified for the Europa league group stages after successfully navigating the qualifying rounds.
Arsenal players, irrespective of the starting line-up, should be able to enjoy this game and play with some flair and verve that provide entertainment to the Irish football fans attending the match, and also to us who in the wider Goonerverse who have been subjected to an array of listless, drab performances in the league lately. Our Europa performances have had a few joyful moments this season where the extra amount of space and time allowed by opposition players were exploited by the higher technical and physical qualities of our players. We saw a few well-orchestrated moves, moments of individual brilliance, and sumptuous strikes.
This Sunday’s home match against Burnley will be in the forefront of Arteta’s mind while choosing the starting line-up for this match. However, I don’t think he will start more than one or two players who haven’t yet started for Arsenal this season in any competition. Given the unfortunate recurrence of Partey’s injury last Sunday, combined with Xhaka’s alarmingly slow-paced performance, I think both Elneny and Dani should be in contention for the starting line-up for this Sunday’s match. Neither Joe Willock nor Reiss Nelson (who wasn’t even in the squad) had played a single minute in the loss last weekend – in my opinion, quite inexplicably as both could have brought some directness and impetus that were obviously lacking – so they too should be in contention at least for making significant contributions from the bench if not in the starting eleven. I think at least one of them will still start this match as Mikel will want to ensure that there is a sense of continuity in the technical quality of our Europa performances.
As Nicolas Pépé still has one more match to sit out for his uncharacteristic red card against Leeds, he will start. I hope Ainsley is given a chance to continue to impress in his preferred central midfield role. Balogun will obviously get a chance at some stage in this game, if not starting in tandem with Eddie then replacing Nketiah in the second half. Given our well-known paucity of creative outlets in the midfield the home-grown talent of Emile Smith Rowe is an enticing prospect to be used in Premier League, even if sparingly, and Mikel may want to test his consistency over the span of a full match in this game. Callum Chambers played his first few minutes of professional football after a long recovery so he should continue that process again as a second half substitute, with five subs being allowed in European competition that option becomes much easier to implement.
My predicted line-up:
Rúnarsson
Cedric – Mustafi – Mari – Kolasinac
AMN-Willock
Pépé – ESR – Reiss
Eddie
With the likes of Chambers, Balogun, Miguel Azeez, Ben Cottrell coming in the second half.
A win with a few goals and some entertaining football will be most welcome. I am guessing another 4-1 victory. Happy viewing everyone!
nicely done, dr. faustus. the only thing i might quibble about is i’d like to see auba up front. if we’re going to have that progressive a midfield/front five, let’s see him get something other than scraps and get his shooting boots polished from thwacking in a hat trick.
that midfield of amn/willock/esr might be the future. so let’s find out!
Lovely picture of a lovely land, Faustus. I’ll read your post next but wanted to mention Jon Toral, ex of this parish, is on a hat trick for Birmingham tonight.
Good stuff Dr F.
Sadly I cannot load the picture that has bt8 in raptures as it won’t load but I can imagine the rainswept green sward.
I’m with scruz on starting Auba. He needs to rediscover the way to goal and this is a perfect opportunity. If he shows he has done so in the first half he need not play for more than 45′.
Great preview Dr.F and a very likely team.
In the EFL last night Balogun didn’t start and Azeez and Cottrell were subbed off so there’s a clue there . It’s a huge pity we didn’t register Saliba as this would be a perfect game for him .
I’m firmly in the don’t even put Auba on the plane camp. Scoring four goals against Irish part-timers is no preparation for PL action. The boy has been carrying the Arsenal attack for two seasons and is knackered . If he got injured on a cold night in Dublin the Twitterverse would crucify Arteta and we’d have no strikers at all likely to score .
A couple of possible bench additions are Moller who is a big lad but played 90 minutes last night and Lopez who is an interesting newbie at left wing back ( ex- Barca) . If only we had a bolter coming through at right back to pressure Hector .
In a meaningless game we will record a meaningless 4-1 win
A fine preview thanks Dr F.
That side looks about right though
it’s difficult to predict at CB and
CM. Mikel may want to give starts
to Calum or Luiz at CB and also
play Elneny in the middle with
Joe W pushed further forward.
We are the last team in the Europa
League with a 100% record, an
odd contrast to our league form,
so I hope whoever starts will make
the effort we’ve seen in the
previous group games even though
it is basically, as TTG noted, a
meaningless game
Good going, Dr F. You team looks likely. I am with TTG in not risking Auba. Arteta is of the same mind, it seems. Auba apparently not on the plane.
A bit of trivia: That home Glentoran game was Sammy Nelson’s debut. Came on as a sub for Bob McNab. And the away game was Ray Kennedy’s debut. Came on as a sub for Raddy. That game also had a rare appearance by goalkeeper Malcolm Webster. Played six games for the club and was never on the winning side.
Sammy Nelson showing his love of the Arse.
UTA
Ned
Webster was the worst Arsenal goalkeeper I have ever seen. We were beating Manchester United 2-0 ( Sammels got a famous swerving low shot from thirty five yards ) when Best fired in a scuffed shot that Webster who wore a cap could have used it to stop the ball . Instead he fumbled it in and the game ended 2-2. He later moved to Southend. The game is probably on YouTube somewhere.
The 1969-70 season threatened to be a disaster and we didn’t even look likely to do well in the Fairs Cup but we scraped past Glentoran, beat Sporting Lisbon and scraped past Rouen in the same week we exited the FA Cup to Blackpool. We then thrashed Dinamo Bacau 9-1 on aggregate and disposed of Ajax in the semi. The rest is history
A very readable preview Dr F. Thank you and congratulations.
COYG
Pizza in the previous drinks: If you want the best, it is in NYC. Either John’s in the Village or Louie and Ernie’s in the Bronx since Famous Ray’s went to that great pizza box in the sky. Lots of fancy pizza places for the hipsters in Brooklyn and the West Village, but for old school, nowhere else comes close. Pepperoni is the only legitimate topping, or perhaps half pepperoni and half anchovy.
oooh, ned. i think that you can get the best nyc pizza in nyc, but not the best pizza overall in the world. not a chance.
There is another sort of pizza, Scruz?
The slice is king.
newyork.cbslocal.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/14578484/2012/01/lucias-08.jpg
indeed, ned. as i said in the last drinks, pizza al taglio (by the slice) in rome, at any number of pizzeria, is where it’s at. nyc pizza is derivative.
but i’m not disputing its quality, just its primacy.
Thanks for the preview Dr Faustus. As for Irish clubs, I always preferred Distillery. Cheers!
Thank you, Dr F for another fine preview.
The team looks quite probable but I am starting to wonder about preserving the same group of players to underperform in the Premier League again. One or two of those above should be let loose against Burnley – they could hardly do any worse.
There are many good pizza joints in the US (as well as many skanky ones) but the best pizzas on the planet, bar none, are to be found in Italy.
From previous drinks – EGG? AND MUSTARD? *bokes*
I will probably miss tonight’s meaningless match as I have other things to do, but I would pick Aubameyang and let him find his scoring boots again. Even against proper Europa League crap, a goal is a goal.
Also from previous drinks and responding to Pink Floyd, the Norwegian prog rockers Airbag may be of some appeal to those who enjoy Floyd.
Nice review Doctor F, and if the bookies are to be believed we should win by several clear goals. Being the eternal optimist (or greedy punter), I’ll have a few quid on 5, 6 and 7 to nil.
Clive from the previous drink, the prize money was three grand, which split seven ways is not a life changer! I did manage to back her at 16/1, so did ok.
Cheers Doc!
Shame about Paolo Rossi, 64 is
too young. Brilliant at the 82
World Cup, especially the hat
trick to beat Brazil. RIP.
Here is some fuzzy footage of that match: https://youtu.be/QgKf5nIRnp4
Nice preview Doc. Your line up looks good.
I hope ESR does indeed start and that Balogun gets at least 30 mins. I’d be happy if he gets an unexpected start too.
Pepe will have an opportunity to show that, talent-wise, he is a few notches above the defenders he will face. I hope he has another good game and puts himself firmly in contention for a league start once he has finished his ban.
4-1 sounds good. Although there is no reason we have to concede. Let’s keep the extra goal but have it chalked up to the good guys! 5-0 with goals from Pepe, Eddie, ESR, Balogun and one other.
One good thing about the Europa league is that it is possible to imagine a good result before the games. It will be great when we get that feeling back in the league.
Arsenal: Runarsson, Chambers, Mustafi, Mari, Cedric, Willock, Elneny, Maitland-Niles, Smith Rowe, Pepe, Nketiah
Subs: Macey, Hein, Saka, Ceballos, Holding, Balogun, Cottrell, Azeez
ESR starts lads!
Cant see a natural back four out of that, so looks like AMN as left wing back? Prefer him the middle, but that looks like ElNeny / Willock.
Xhaka not even in squad? Definite starter on Sunday then.
Yep, looks like 3-4-3. It’s nice to see ESR start.
Cedric might be left back in a four .
AMN could be left back, left wing-back or holding midfielder
I rarely want Xhaka to play but I would have liked to see him start today
Like GSD I’d like to see a lot of Balogun and a chunk of time for Azeri, who like Saka is cutting through the ranks very quickly
I’m going to drink Guinness tonight as a sign of respect to our hosts . And because I like it . And because I’m a pisshead
Yeah I thought of that TTG re Cedric. But that asks Chambers to play right back in his first start? Tough on him I reckon. Although its ‘only’ Dundalk.
My spillchucker knows nothing about football. Azeri is of course Azeez.
I’ve not started on the Guinness yet …honestly
though, esso, with those four in the midfield chambo might be somewhat protected against dundalk’s “threat”.
ttg @30, just a couple bottles in, eh? i don’t usually “start” until the fourth or fifth 😘
Good shout on the Stout as well! Still on the Birra Morettis here. Still plenty of my 26 half-price cases going strong!
TTG@28: Good man. The Guv’nor was partial to a glass of black stuff, too.
Cedric doesn’t seem to have played on the left very often. I can only find four games in which he has played left back and another three in which he played left wing back, the most recent at left back being in March 2019 for Inter Milan in a Europa Cup game.
He sure was. And a drop of decent scotch from time to time. Remember introducing him to Big Ian Mathers fi Musselburgh early one Saturday morning – the second of the 5-2’s vs Sp*rz from memory. Dave was a bit under the weather and didn’t fancy Stout at the time. Politely declined Ian’s offer, but when he looked round at the bar minutes later, was a large scotch waiting for him. He sighed, raised his eyebrows, and downed the fucker.
The line up may be more 3-5-2:
Chambers, Mustafi, Mari
Cedric, Elneny, Willock, AMN, ESR
Pepe, Nketiah
Or 3-4-2-1:
Chambers, Mustafi, Mari
Cedric, Elneny, Willock, AMN,
Pepe, ESR
Nketiah
Great story, Esso. The Guv’nor always knew how to do the right thing.
This was the day;
Brilliant Esso
Great link Esso. You found that match report quickly. What’s the secret?
Myself I am on a first bottle of IPA. Which is nice enough.
But what is really doing the business is a bag of pork scratchings all to myself. They are going down faster than the beer!
Welcome back Calum Chambers!
Good move TTG on the Guinness. Respect to the Oirish.
Shit pitch. Forget how bad pure turf pitches are in mid winter.
And again – sorry to sound like a broken record on this, we should be playing in RED AND WHITE.
Great press, tackle and cut back by ESR.
dundalk passing around like an oirish barcelona.
Golazzio! Take that you potato eaters.
pepe is an outstanding free kick taker. why is cedric taking it?
Eddie get in!!!!
Great start.
Eddie is now our top scorer this season.
eddieeeee!
Go on Eddie! Like a Welbz special
giving boyle a rough time of it too, he’s already on a yellow.
he hit it in off his butt, esso?
Not quite. But an element of fortune involved in the actual strike for me.
Fuck me what a hit from Elneny!
Anche uno golazzio! Pick that out!
Spectacular hit by Elneny. 2-0.
2-0
Shakin’ his booty to good effect, sounds like.
mooooooooooo!!!
give me some mo!neny!!!
Wrong word order at 59. Mi piace.
Oh Pépé! What a move.
Molto grazzie Esso for your link at 38. Great memories, even for us as weren’t there in the first place.
Booo
2-1. We are back defending like shit.
Keeper poor.
and let 1 in?
Runarsson could have done better there
like i said. oirish barcelona.
That’s exceedingly harsh on Cedric.
Fucking hope Leno don’t get injured in a hurry.
You think Bath? He lost the ball with a very poor touch then caught the Irish player’s ankle.
Another harsh yellow.
Oirish Farça, alroight! Goes down like a Catalan.
C100 @76, I do. It was the Irishman who clattered in with incautious momentum.
two really, really cheap yellows on ours.
Can we blame the pitch for so much poor control from Arsenal? The pitch hasrugby lines on it so no wonder it’s chewed up.
Not another incautious Irishman?
I would ask Are you sure those aren’t hurling lines but I wouldn’t know a hurling line if I saw one. Imagine it’s important to stay out of the line of fire though when they start hurling. Probably chews up the grass a bit too.
Looks like rugby 10m and 22m lines to me.
They almost equalised on the stroke of half time. We look jittery defending crosses into the box. Old failing.
Bit lucky not to be 2-2. Excellent block from Calum.
Jittery with Mustafi in the center of things. Who woulda thought?
Is it Lansdown Road? Certainly looks like a rugby marsh. I think I read that it was being played in Dublin rather than in Dundalk, though not certain about that.
I thought Mustafi was having a good game. As is Marí. Chambers feeling his way back but as C100 observed, made an excellent block Cedric is having a very good game.
Don’t have a stream but I do remember from the first leg that many of their number looked like rugby players including their Neanderthal-like right back.
bt8, there has been no evolution whatsoever over the last few weeks.
It’s the Aviva stadium, Dublin, where Ireland play rugby. New stadium on the same site of the old Lansdowne Road.
So who would you hook first and who would you bring on?
Balogun on for Eddie and Ceballos on for Elneny.
Eddie off Balogun on and Ceballos on for Elneny.
SUPER JOE!
Willock!
Willock scores off Nalogun pass. 3-1.
Balogun looks very strong with his back to goal.
Faustian prediction could be on.
I like this. Two of our goals tonight definitely exactly screamers – but they all count!
Cottrell on for ESR.
19 year old Cottrel on.
Good FH for ESR. Quieter second.Interesting to see Cotterell When is Pépé going to come on?
Balogun. Soooper!
Nice assist from Pépé. He’s come on!
Balogun off a nice Pepe pass. He has an eye for a goal.
Brilliant finish from Balogun. Calm set up from Pepe.
Fuckin’ excellent!
Now Azeez given ten minutes. Everything we were asking for.
Good header but Marí let him go.
He really is a shit keeper.
OK on second watch more down to Mari
Don’t think the keeper had much of a chance to save that.
Azeez looks the business. Balogun will go further than Nketiah, hopefully at the Arsenal.
Unlucky Calum.
Cedric is a better defender than Hector. And he can take a throw in!
Azeez has the poise of CF4. Such awareness and a great touch. A very exciting prospect.
disappointing goal to give up, but great to see the second half subs. balogun is a player. cottrell might be too lightweight, azeez made some great passing decisions and has a nice first touch.
and we really shoulda smashed them, some of the stuff we played. still, undefeated (ok, in a weak group) is nice.
Agree with Bath on both Balogun and Cedric. The former has Eddie’s predatory instincts with Giroudesque hold-up play. The latter also puts in top-quality attacking early crosses.
i have to say i agree with baff too. not sure if hector’s head is in the game these days.
balogun also opened up his body well for that shot, knew he was going to take it as soon as pepe hit it. a little reminiscent of drogba, if i am honest. i’d love him to put the hoodoo on spurs and pool and cause their defenders to lose their minds (senderos, anyone?).
Job done, as they say. Good games by ESR, AMN and Cedric. Everyone else pretty solid, although Pepe did not impose himself on the match as much as he could have. Runnarsson remains a question mark. Difficult to criticise him for either goal but the first one might have been saved. Balogun looked good when he came on, and nothing to criticise in the cameos from Cottrell and Azeez.
Bit unlucky on the score Dr F but
a decent win in the end and nice
to see ESR, Calum start as well
as the kids come on.
Job done in the group stages.
The PL sides our main rivals?
Let me add to the chorus of praise for Balogun. Great with back to goal I also think he brings more to the table than Eddie.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>